Tips for Writing with Better Flow and Clarity

Found this 1980 ad about writing clearly. 65 years later, it's still the best writing advice I've ever seen: 1) Know exactly what you want to say before you start Most people start writing and figure it out as they go. That's why most writing sucks. Thompson says outline first, write second. Revolutionary concept, apparently. 2) Start where your readers are, not where you are Don't assume people know what you know. Meet them at their level of understanding, then bring them along. Most "experts" write for other experts and wonder why nobody gets it. 3) Use familiar word combinations Thompson's example: A scientist wrote "The biota exhibited a one hundred percent mortality response." Translation: "All the fish died." Stop trying to sound smart. Start trying to be clear. 4) Arrange your points logically Put the most important stuff first. Then the next most important. Then the least important. Seems obvious, but most people do it backwards. 5) Use "first-degree" words Thompson says some words bring immediate images to mind. Others need to be "translated" through first-degree words before you see them. "Precipitation" => "Rain" "Utilize" => "Use" "Facilitate" => "Help" 6) Cut the jargon Thompson warns against words and phrases "known only to people with specific knowledge or interests." If your mom wouldn't understand it, rewrite it. 7) Think like your reader, not like yourself Thompson asks: "Do they detract from clarity?" Most writers ask: "Do I sound professional?" Wrong question. TAKEAWAY: This ad is from 1960. The internet didn't exist. Social media wasn't even a concept. But the principles of clear communication haven't changed. Most people still can't write clearly because they're trying to impress instead of express.

In my 14yrs career in engineering working for Big Tech companies such as Google and Uber, there is no other skill I used more than writing. And no, I don’t mean writing code. I mean English writing. Emails, Design Docs, Presentations, Feedback, Code Reviews, you name it. Here's how I make my written communication clear, effective, and punchy. 👇 Written communication can sometimes be daunting, especially for non-native speakers—like me. That’s why I wanted to share  the 6 questions that I use when writing anything. This helps me communicate more effectively and connect with my audience better. 1. Who is my target audience? Identify the specific group or individuals you are speaking to. Knowing your audience assists you in customizing your writing to meet their requirements and interests. 2. What is my main objective or purpose? Clarify the primary goal of your writing. Whether it's to inform, persuade, entertain, or educate, knowing your objective guides your content. 3. What key points do I want to convey? Identify the main idea or key points you want to communicate. This will help you stay focused and make sure your message is clear and logical. 4. Why should the reader care about this? Consider the value or benefit your writing offers to the reader. Highlight how it addresses their needs or solves a problem. 5. Is my writing clear, concise, and organized? Make sure your content is clear and easy to understand. Keep the flow logical and avoid using complex language or jargon that might confuse the reader. 6. Can I make my writing shorter? The answer is always yes. So make sure to edit edit edit. Brevity saves time for both the writer and the reader. What else would you add to this list? How does your writing process look like? ♻️ Please repost if you found this useful

Don’t lose the ability to write to AI. Writing is one of the best forms of communication: it clarifies our thoughts and connects us to others. But as AI tools make writing easier, many are starting to lose the ability to do it themselves. Everyone’s writing with AI. Few are learning to write - or think - better. At a recent session with a group of young professionals, I reminded them not to rely too heavily on AI, especially when it comes to writing AI can make our sentences sound smarter. It can clean up grammar, adjust tone, and even suggest what we might have meant. But what it can’t do is think for you. I told them that good writing is really good thinking made visible. And as I watched their heads nod, I realised, I’d forgotten to tell them how to rebuild that muscle. So here it is - the simple process I use whenever I write: #1: Start with bullets Jot down the key ideas. No polishing. Just get your thoughts out. #2: Check the story Do those ideas flow logically? Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? #3: Expand Turn your bullets into sentences. Add only what’s needed to make the point clear. #4: Read each sentence in isolation Ask: Does this say what I mean? Does it add value? Can it be misunderstood? #5: Read the whole piece again Does it flow? Or have I added words that blur the message? #6: Edit ruthlessly Cut jargon. Shorten sentences. Write like you’re talking to a smart friend, not trying to impress one. #7: Step away and proofread Come back later. When it’s clear enough to do its job : stop editing. After that, you’re just polishing your hammer. In a world full of tools that can write for us, the real skill is learning to write as ourselves. Clarity, not cleverness, is what persuades. If you let AI do all your writing, who’s really doing your thinking?

AI can write anything. But can it write clearly? As AI floods the internet with passable content, clarity— not quantity— is becoming the ultimate competitive edge. Research from 18 years of A/B tests proves it:  → Copywriting is still the #1 lever for increasing conversion. And here’s the kicker: → Most content fails not because it’s wrong, but because it’s confusing. Why clarity beats clever: → Users don’t buy what they don’t understand. → Most sites lose money because their copy makes people work too hard. → Even typo-free, grammatically correct writing can fail if it overwhelms short-term memory. Enter readability— the hidden superpower of great writing. → Short sentences → Quick resolution points → Plain verbs These help your readers “breathe” while reading. Even AI-generated content needs a human hand to sharpen, simplify & convert. Here’s how to write clearer, faster: → Speak first, then write. (Moz increased conversion 52% by doing just that.) → Edit like a human: replace “carry out an improvement initiative” with “improve the website.” → Avoid the “Official Style” that sounds smart but loses your reader halfway in. TL;DR: Great writing is easy to understand. Great editing makes it so. As AI keeps generating more, your ability to refine becomes your most profitable skill. Want your words to convert? Start by making them clear. Let’s hear it: what’s one writing habit that’s improved your clarity the most?

Most academic writing advice for part-timers is broken. Find a quiet space and write for hours... Most part-timer PhD students just can't do this. The real secret isn't more time. Trust me. It's cognitive architecture. After working on this for 15+ years, I found patterns. Here's the framework I use to write better papers faster: 1. The MVS Method: Minimum Viable Sessions Break every paragraph into 12-minute chunks. This matches your brain's natural attention cycles. Go harder if it works in the moment and with your flow. • Complete high-cognition work at peak hours • Map sections to your energy levels • Write 200+ words per session Your brain craves completion, not duration. But you can push for deep focus 2-hour sessions, too. 2. Pre-Writing Cognitive Transfer Spend 15 minutes brain-dumping before you start. This clears mental clutter from working memory. • Keep the list visible but peripheral • Include tomorrow's obligations • Write every worry on paper External storage frees internal processing power. 3. The Tactile Anchor Trigger Choose one object you only touch while writing. Hold it for 30 seconds before starting. • Creates instant state dependency • Focus on texture and weight • A specific pen works well Your nervous system learns to focus on command. 4. Strategic Disfluency Make reading slightly harder to push engagement. Switch fonts or devices for editing sections. • Secret: Use Sans Forgetica for difficult passages • Force your brain to recruit more resources • Write complex ideas by hand first Small obstacles create deeper focus. Making intake hard makes output easy. 5. The Triple Document System Keep three writing spaces open simultaneously. This prevents idea loss and writer's block. • Main manuscript for formal writing (Overleaf) • Parking lot for tangential thoughts (Apple Notes) • Shadow paper for conversational explanations (Word) When stuck, switch documents to maintain momentum. The best researchers don't write more. They write smarter. ♻️ Repost to help a struggling academic ➕ Follow Lennart Nacke for more research tips. 📫 Get the best research posters on the internet: https://lnkd.in/dZXE_kHA #phd #research #writingtips

Technical mastery isn't enough: The skill that accelerates your career in Data Science is writing. Writing is not only important for Data Scientists, but anyone from Project Managers to Software Engineers. Why? Like public speaking, excellent writing helps you gain buy-in for your ideas. Becoming a better writer means becoming a better communicator. And when you’re a great communicator, you have an easier time bringing your point across. Writing brings clarity. For me writing brings structure to my thinking. I often find many ideas floating around my head. To put them on paper, I need to add structure and clarity to thoughts. Often I can spot a missing piece or a flaw in logic once I’m writing it out. Writing has never come easy to me. English was consistently my worst subject in school. Having pursued Engineering and Science degrees, it was not taught to me in college either. I considered myself a “bad” writer and that I had to live with that. Today, I know that is not true. Anyone can improve their writing. Here are some suggestions: 1. Before starting to write, ask yourself: who is the audience? Who will read this piece and what do they or I want to get out of this? You want to adapt your writing to your audience. 2. Clarity in writing is more important than sophistication. Don’t use big words or jargon. Bring your point across in simple words. 3. Adapt your writing to the medium. My writing here on LinkedIn is very different from my writing elsewhere. On LinkedIn it’s important to have catchy hooks and an easy flow. The writing also tends to be more casual. For a Data Science report a detailed description of the problem at hand is more important. 4. Read your writing. This one might seem obvious: Don’t just hit send on that e-mail. Don’t just submit a report to your boss. Take the time to re-read it. Reconsider the previous questions: Did I address the audience’s need? Is my writing clear? 5. Leverage tools to learn to become a better writer. I like the hemingwayapp editor. It gives you actionable suggestions on how to improve your writing. For example, it might suggest to use a simpler word or shorten a sentence. Use ChatGPT as your editing partner. Example prompt: “Please critique this paragraph for clarity and suggest improvements”. Important: Use AI to refine, not replace. The benefit of gaining clarity for yourself often diminishes the earlier in the process you use Gen AI. 6. Practice, practice, practice. Like with any skill, it takes practice to improve. Follow a growth mindset: you’re not a bad writer - you haven’t practiced enough yet. I’m still on my journey to learn how to write better. Keep in mind: 📌 Think of your audience 📌 Clarity > Sophistication 📌 Adapt to the medium 📌 Leverage tools 📌 Practice, practice, practice How has writing affected your career? Follow me and  #datainlogistics for more content on data science in logistics and my path into the field. #datascience #softskills #writing

Tired of reviewers calling your paper ‘unclear’ when the science is strong? Most researchers aren’t born great writers but we can become better with practice, feedback and a few key insights. 🌟 1. One idea = one paragraph Don’t overcrowd your paragraphs. Each paragraph should do ONE job, explain one point, one step, or one argument. 🌟 2. Your first sentence is a signpost The first sentence of every paragraph should tell the reader what’s coming. Think of it like a mini-headline. 🌟 3. Write as if explaining to a smart friend Avoid overly complicated language. If your friend from another field can’t understand your abstract, revise it. Clarity is king. 🌟 4. Don’t bury the main point Start your paper, paragraph, or sentence with the most important idea. Don’t make your reader dig for it. 🌟 5. Read your work aloud It’s one of the simplest and most powerful tools. Awkward phrases, missing words, or unclear ideas become obvious when you hear them. 🌟 6. Good writing is re-writing The best papers weren’t written in one go. Editing is where clarity, flow, and structure are born. 🌟 7. Use strong verbs Replace “was conducted to examine” with “examined.” Your writing becomes more direct and powerful. 👉 If English isn't your first language, don't try to sound "fancy." Simpler English is not only acceptable, but preferred in science. PS: What’s your biggest struggle with writing? Or what's helped you improve? Share in the comments REPOST to help others #ScientificWriting #PhDLife #AcademicWriting #ClearWriting #ScienceCommunication #ResearchTips

You're not bad at academic writing.  You just don't have a system. Everyone says "read more papers, write more often." But nobody shows you how to actually improve. Here's how: 1. Find your accountability partner  → You don't get extra points for struggling alone.  → Find someone who writes well and will give you real feedback. 2. Identify your weak spots → Don't try to fix "bad writing."  → Fix concrete things: Is your challenge structure, flow, clarity, or vocabulary?  → You can’t fix what you can’t name. 3. Read good papers AND bad papers → Good papers show you what works.  → Bad papers teach you what to avoid.  → Study how they structure arguments, not just what they say. 4. Read beyond your field → Reading academic papers alone won't teach you writing craft.  → Read actual books on writing, blog posts, and articles.  → Great writing anywhere teaches clarity everywhere. 5. Write every single day → 15 minutes minimum.  → A short reflection, a random thought, a summary of anything.  → Writing fluency comes from repetition. 6. Translate your research for non-experts  → If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.  → Write blog posts or LinkedIn articles about your work. 7. Stop editing while you draft  → First draft = get ideas down.  → Second draft = make it good.  → Third draft = polish.  → Trying to be perfect while writing first draft kills momentum. 8. Get feedback early and often  → Waiting for "complete" drafts slows your growth.  → Share rough paragraphs and messy outlines. → Fast feedback beats slow perfection every time. Writing isn't a talent you're born with. Every great academic writer you admire once wrote terrible first drafts too. The difference is they kept writing. If you're struggling right now, don't be too hard on yourself. Follow these steps. Read → Write → Feedback → Reflect → Iterate PS: What helped you improve your academic writing? _____ (🔁) REPOST. Someone in your network needs this. 

This writing advice is 45 years old. And it still beats AI by a mile... Since this article was published, the world has become a very different place. We can now generate anything we can imagine in mere seconds. But faster rarely means better. When it comes to writing, AI defaults to jargon-filled, abstract, cookie-cutter language.  (The exact kind of writing this article advises against.) So, whether you're writing from scratch or using AI to speed up the process, these principles are still the gold standard for producing clear, effective content. Here's what Edward T. Thompson (former Editor-in-Chief of Reader's Digest) identified in 1980: 1. Outline what you want to say Know where you're going before you start writing.  Use index cards, bullet points, whatever works. 2. Start where your readers are Consider how much they already know about the subject.  Don't write over their heads or beneath their intelligence. 3. Avoid jargon Don't use phrases that only people with specific knowledge will understand.  If you can say it simply, say it simply. 4. Use familiar combinations of words Don't invent awkward phrases when clear ones already exist.  But remember: Bad grammar can be just as unclear. 5. Use "first-degree" words Choose words that immediately bring an image to mind.  Concrete will always beat abstract. The fundamentals of clear writing haven't changed a bit. These principles were true in 1980, and they're still true now. In fact, they matter even more today. AI can generate thousands of words in seconds.  But it defaults to abstract, corporate language. If you don't know what clear writing looks like, you won't catch it. You'll edit for grammar and call it done.  But the writing will still feel empty. So in a world where AI slop is ruining the internet... Let clear, articulate writing be your competitive advantage. What's your best piece of timeless writing advice? --- I'm fascinated by writing and creativity in the era of AI.  If you are too, give me a follow Katharine Gordon! And repost to share this article with your network!

Let me be honest. Learning to be concise was hard for me. I grew up in a high-context culture (shoutout to The Culture Map by Erin Meyer for breaking this down)—where meaning is implied, not always spelled out. But in most modern workplaces, brevity is power. Then I came across Blaise Pascal’s quote: "If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter." And I realized—being concise isn’t about knowing less. It’s about thinking more. Because in reality— • The best leaders? They simplify. • The best presenters? They get to the point. • The best communicators? They make complex ideas sound effortless. Here are 5 things that helped me get better at this: 1. Start with the takeaway – If people only remember one thing, make sure it’s the first thing you say. 2. Trim the fluff – Before sending an email, ask: Does this actually add value? If not, cut it. 3. Use bullet points – Because nobody likes reading giant walls of text. 4. Pause before responding – A second of silence is better than a minute of rambling. 5. Rehearse brevity – Try explaining a complex idea in one sentence. If you can’t, you probably don’t fully understand it yet. I used to think saying more made me sound smarter. Now, I know the opposite is true. Because the most powerful messages? They don’t waste words. What’s your best tip for clear communication? Drop it below—I’d love to hear it. #Communication #CultureMap #LessIsMore